Two brothers and officers

[webr55]

I've posted this before on another forum, but I post it here again because I'm looking for some specific information... their commission dates (Glenn?? ).

These are two great-granduncles of my wife:

Walter Papendick and Emil Papendick. First Walter:

He was born in 1896 in Sokaiten/East Prussia and joined the 2. Garde-Reg. zF probably in 1914:

Edited November 11, 2017 by webr55

[webr55]

He was commissioned in the 2. GRzF as Lt dR, probably at the end of 1915:

Edited November 11, 2017 by webr55

[webr55]

Walter was then assigned to RIR 35 and got the EK2:

Edited November 11, 2017 by webr55

[webr55]

This photo is taken from the regimental history of RIR 35, showing Walter to the right:

Edited November 11, 2017 by webr55

[webr55]

As far as I know, RIR 35 was at the Eastern front, later at Verdun for a short time, and then sent to Galicia where they were sitting quite idle. Finally they were sent to France again during summer 1918 and got involved in some very heavy fighting. RIR 35 was dissolved on 23.7.1918 due to heavy losses. Probably Walter, who survived this, got his EK1 on that occasion:

Edited November 11, 2017 by webr55

[webr55]

Another pic from the same session:

Edited November 11, 2017 by webr55

[webr55]

His EK1 in close-up:

Edited November 11, 2017 by webr55

[webr55]

He was assigned to IR52 as company leader after that, here is a last photo of him.

Walter Papendick was KIA on 11.9.1918 near Vailly.

Edited November 11, 2017 by webr55

[webr55]

Emil Papendick was Walter's elder brother. He was born in 1884 and joined the Gren-Reg 3 in Königsberg probably in 1907, when this photo was taken, which shows him as a one-year volunteer:

Edited November 11, 2017 by webr55

[webr55]

Emil was however not commissioned before WW1. Probably made only Vizefw dR, but he must have made officer in 1914 or at the beginning of 1915. This pic shows him as Lt dR during the war.

Edited November 11, 2017 by webr55

[webr55]

Another pic of him, however the resolution is not good enough to focus on the shoulder strap:

Edited November 11, 2017 by webr55

[webr55]

Emil did not get the EK1, but he survived WW1. He had however less luck in WW2: Emil Papendick is missing since the flight from East Prussia in 1945.

The only indication of what regiment Emil was in is this (sadly cut-off) postcard he got from his brother in (apparently) 1916. It is addressed to Lt u. Komp.fh. Emil Papendick in Inf. Regt. ... 451?

Edited November 11, 2017 by webr55

[webr55]

So, Glenn, please - any chance of finding their commission dates?

Chris

[Glenn J]

Chris,

we have a Leutnant der Reserve Papendick (Landwehrbezirk Tilsit) commissioned on 22 March 1915 in Landwehr-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 33. This is probably Emil.

Offizieraspirant Walter Papendick (Landwehrbezirk Tilsit) of 2. GRzf. was commissioned on 7 August 1915.

Regards

Glenn

[webr55]

Many thanks, Glenn, as always!!

Chris

[Alex K]

Hi must just say that these are fantastic family photo's

regards

Alex

[buellmeister]

Thank you for sharing your in-Law's Family History. Quite Interesting I may add.

Regards,

Joel

[Riley1965]

That's quite a bit of family history to be proud of!!! Thanks for posting the pictures!!!

Doc

[webr55]

Thank you for your kind comments!

[VtwinVince]

Great photos and history. Reminds me alot of my family connection, both to Koenigsberg and to the 5. Garde Regiment zu Fuss.

[Deruelle]

Hi

Have you got more papers from those men, like Kriegsranglisten etc. Nice group.

Regards

Christophe

[webr55]

Hi

Have you got more papers from those men, like Kriegsranglisten etc. Nice group.

Regards

Christophe

Sadly, no. No documents survived WW2, especially the flight from East Prussia.

[Mike Dwyer]

Web55, thank you very much for sharing these photos and history with us. I find the personal histories and stories to be the best thing on this forum!

[Xander11]

Walter Papendick almost looks exactly like my great grandpa rudolph papendick who was born in the same town and left to america the same year Walter died.